Nervous Nellie- Class is for dogs that are nervous and anxious with people and/or things, i.e. sounds, objects, etc., other than their handlers. Class size is limited to 4-6 dog/handler teams. Classes meet once a week for six weeks. The first class is a required lecture reviewing safety, equipment and a brief look into each dogs history. Dogs DO NOT attend the first class.

Reactive Rover- Reactive Rover is for dogs who bark, lunge and who react poorly to other dogs or people (with people reactivity, please consult an AKDS admin first to make sure a group class is right for your dog. Private lessons are available.). Class size is limited to 4-6 dog/handler teams. Classes meet once a week for six weeks. In this class we work on leash handling skills and teach new, positive associations to previous triggers. We practice techniques to help dogs that are frustrated on leash but who may already get along with other dogs off leash as well as dogs who are not dog friendly at all. It will also help you understand what to do as well as what NOT to do in situations where your dog may bark, lunge or otherwise react. With a class limit of 4 dogs, we first teach handlers the skills without the dogs and then add dogs to the room as able. The first class is a required lecture reviewing safety, equipment and a brief look into each dogs history. Dogs DO NOT attend the first class. Each subsequent class starts with people-only discussion. Dogs will need to be comfortable in the car for 1/2 hour at a time. Please talk to your instructor on lecture night about how to keep your dogs calm and cool while waiting to work in the building.

Reactive Rover Continued - Class is for dogs/handlers that have been through the initial Reactive Rover class within the past 6-12 months and focuses on continued learning of dog/handler skills. Class size is limited to 6 dog/handler teams. Classes meet once a week for six weeks.

Reactive Rover Street Smarts - Class is for pre-approveddogs/handlers that have been through the initial Reactive Rover class within the past 6 months and focuses on continued learning of dog/handler skills in new outdoor locations around Anchorage each week. Class size is limited to 4 dog/handler teams. Classes meet once a week for four weeks.

Frantic Fido - Class is for dogs experiencing lack of self control. Dogs for this class are not "aggressive" but overly excited and easily over stimulated with an inability to easily calm or settle. Frantic Fido is for dogs who may be called "hyper": they have a hard time settling down, relaxing in new environments or other impulse control issues (with leash reactive dogs -barking, lunging, growling-please consult an AKDS admin first to make sure a group class is right for your dog. Reactive Rover might be a better fit, and private lessons are available.) Dogs may exhibit serious pulling on leash to get to where they want to go, excited barking, leaping/jumping/spinning behaviors, etc. Class size is limited to 6 dog/handler teams. Classes meet once a week for six weeks. In the Frantic Fido class we work on handling skills and at the dogs pace to create new habits, incorporating calming exercises. We practice positive and relationship based techniques to help dogs and their handlers begin to communicate, even in exciting environments. The first class is required to review safety, equipment and a brief look into each dogs history as well as provide teaching material (homework) for the first week before dogs attend class. Dogs DO NOT attend the first class of Frantic Fido. Each subsequent class starts with people-only discussion. Dogs will need to be comfortable in the car. Shade tarps, crate training so the windows can be down, crate fans and having a second person stay in the car with the air conditioning on are all options. Provide and offer water for your dog in the car in case they do not want to drink out of the communal bowls in the center. Please talk to your instructor on lecture night if you have more questions about keeping your dogs calm and cool while waiting to work in the building.